Hey guys I need some ideas for a healer/ tank for a Rise of the Runelords campaign I will be playing in because as of now we have no tank and no healer in our party, so I will fill the roll's. anyone have some neat ideas how to do it?
The criteria is a 25 point buy with base 10 stats, cant reduce stats lower than 7 (other than with racial modifiers). I start at level 1 though the campaign will go till level 18. I can have 2 traits and a heritage feat (any feat that does not have a pre-requisite feat, even stat prerequisites are not allowed)the heritage feat does not count against my normal level 1 feat.
Since these terms tend to get mixed up a bit in games as complex as pathfinder, what do you mean by tank, and what do you mean by healer?
What does a 'tank' do in your group? There are lots of ways to be a frontline fighter, is that all you mean? Someone who can survive in the front line and dish out damage? Is a high ac mandator? Is that all that matters? Does he need to be a damage dealer as well?
Also what do you mean by healer? Do you mean someone who is going to go about fixing every injury allies recieve during combat? Is he just responsible for negative conditions (ability damage, diseases, negative levels, blindess etc) and the rest is handled with cure wands? Can you expect to have healing items at all in your game?
Being able to heal in some forms and being able to fight, is really easy to do and you have lots of options, but depending on what your answers are to the roles of 'healer' and 'tank' your options may be considerably less. And honestly I'd wonder what the heck there actually is in your party if they have no frontliners and no divine casters. 2 wizards and a rogue?
Paladin.
If I may qualify that answer, Paladin makes an excellent tank/healer type because of their high HD (d10), their ability to heal themselves as a swift action (lay on hands) and a variety of other useful defensive abilities. Channel Energy is the default healing mechanism in Pathfinder imo and Paladins get rant as well.
Archetypes are avaailable for increased healing or tanking respectively.
Since these terms tend to get mixed up a bit in games as complex as pathfinder, what do you mean by tank, and what do you mean by healer?
What does a 'tank' do in your group? There are lots of ways to be a frontline fighter, is that all you mean? Someone who can survive in the front line and dish out damage? Is a high ac mandator? Is that all that matters? Does he need to be a damage dealer as well?
Also what do you mean by healer? Do you mean someone who is going to go about fixing every injury allies recieve during combat? Is he just responsible for negative conditions (ability damage, diseases, negative levels, blindess etc) and the rest is handled with cure wands? Can you expect to have healing items at all in your game?
Being able to heal in some forms and being able to fight, is really easy to do and you have lots of options, but depending on what your answers are to the roles of 'healer' and 'tank' your options may be considerably less. And honestly I'd wonder what the heck there actually is in your party if they have no frontliners and no divine casters. 2 wizards and a rogue?
I define tank as high AC able to take damage, being able to deal damage would be nice but is not essential. I define a healer as the one who is doing the majority of life restoring and able to cure of things such as illness and some negative effects.
so far the party has a rouge, a sorcerer and one person who is not yet decided, but I am not going to depend on him to choose something helpful, I have other ideas for characters, but I need one to fill th hole if he doesn't choose anything helpful
Roan: Paladin was the first thing that came to mind but I thought the extent of there healing was lay on hands?
Druid with one of the better animal companions in barding then. Pick something that people wont go nuts over in town, like a wolf, or maybe a dog (since alot of the adventure deals with sandpoint and being in town). Give it at least light armor proficiency, put it in the best barding you can afford. The 25 point buy will also be great for a wildshaping druid, you can have good wisdom and physical stats.
Results: To start with your companion makes a great tank, and will offer support and some damage in combat (or alot of damage if you can get away with something like the big cat).
Druid can also fight, especially once wild shape comes into play, has a good selection of spells including those healing spells.
Your rogue has 2 new buddies to flank with, you can 'tank' and 'heal' at the same time when needed, or tank twice over when you get to mid levels as a druid. And it doesnt matter what the 4th person chooses, because you wont loose out on the action economy either having both you and your companion.
Druid with one of the better animal companions in barding then. Pick something that people wont go nuts over in town, like a wolf, or maybe a dog (since alot of the adventure deals with sandpoint and being in town). Give it at least light armor proficiency, put it in the best barding you can afford. The 25 point buy will also be great for a wildshaping druid, you can have good wisdom and physical stats.
Results: To start with your companion makes a great tank, and will offer support and some damage in combat (or alot of damage if you can get away with something like the big cat).
Druid can also fight, especially once wild shape comes into play, has a good selection of spells including those healing spells.
Your rogue has 2 new buddies to flank with, you can 'tank' and 'heal' at the same time when needed, or tank twice over when you get to mid levels as a druid. And it doesnt matter what the 4th person chooses, because you wont loose out on the action economy either having both you and your companion.
Not a bad idea, I was thinking about druids for the wild shaping, i'm curious though I have never armored my animal companion, is there something special you have to do to do that? and would you say the basic druid would be best or is there an archetype you would suggest?
|
Have you met this guy? The Hospitaler is a pretty solid paladin archetype that gives you some good healing and doesn't really lose any of the Paladin's "Tankiness". Combo that up with Reward of Life and Word of Healing, and you've got a good thing going.
paladin is the most obvious option (IMO)- they're really solid tanks and your high point buy will let you really up your Cha without sacrificing physical stats; that high Cha will give you more LoH, which equates to more Channels @4th, and bonus spells to shore up the (limited) casting of cures/status removers- plus you can take the dangerously curious trait and be able to use all kinds of wands. the sacred shield archetype even replaces smite evil with a shield other aura, which is awesome for a tank/healer.
barring that, you could take a summoner (since they're the most overpowered class ever)... focus on Cha but take 13 Int and whatever else you want. build your eidolon to be a tank/combat-monster (halfway done, and easy to do), and take the rejuvenate eidolon spells to heal it. take eldritch heritage [arcane] for a familiar, improved familiar to make it a good one (with thumbs and the ability to talk), and evolved familiar for the skilled[use magic device] evolution; load up your familiar with wands for cures and status removal. now you have a pet the tanks, a familiar that heals, and a summoner that does whatever he pleases (mostly cracking wise and tossing around random buffs probably, maybe waiting to get AoOs with his longspear if you took some dex and combat reflexes).
paladin is the most obvious option (IMO)- they're really solid tanks and your high point buy will let you really up your Cha without sacrificing physical stats; that high Cha will give you more LoH, which equates to more Channels @4th, and bonus spells to shore up the (limited) casting of cures/status removers- plus you can take the dangerously curious trait and be able to use all kinds of wands. the sacred shield archetype even replaces smite evil with a shield other aura, which is awesome for a tank/healer.
barring that, you could take a summoner (since they're the most overpowered class ever)... focus on Cha but take 13 Int and whatever else you want. build your eidolon to be a tank/combat-monster (halfway done, and easy to do), and take the rejuvenate eidolon spells to heal it. take eldritch heritage [arcane] for a familiar, improved familiar to make it a good one (with thumbs and the ability to talk), and evolved familiar for the skilled[use magic device] evolution; load up your familiar with wands for cures and status removal. now you have a pet the tanks, a familiar that heals, and a summoner that does whatever he pleases (mostly cracking wise and tossing around random buffs probably, maybe waiting to get AoOs with his longspear if you took some dex and combat reflexes).
The summoner Idea is pretty neat, when I was just thinking of doing a tank i was thinking a synthesis summoner. as far as the familiar part goes, I read over the feat and am slightly confused by it, so you have to take skill focus in something specific to get it and one of the bloodlines you select gives you a familiar is that right?
Actually was just writing up a character to be used in an AP like this.
Tiefling (Kyton variant, Prehensile Tail - to hold things like your holy symbol, while using shield and weapon. Loses Fiendish Sorcery.)
Str 14, Dex, 10, Con 18(16+2), Int 10, Wis 8(10-2), Cha 18(16+2)
Traits: Exalted of the Society, (2nd up for grabs)
Favored Class Paladin; Tiefling: +1 hp healed when using LoH on self/level
(1)Paladin (Hospitaler)1: Fey Foundling (Heritage feat), (Level 1 feat up for grabs)
(2)Oracle (Life, Legalistic Curse)1: Life Link Revelation
(3)Paladin (Hospitaler)2: Extra LoH Feat(3rd level)
(4)Oracle 2:
(5)Oracle 3: Channel Revelation, Extra Channel Feat (5th level)
(6)Paladin (Hospitaler)3:
(7+)Paladin (Hospitaler)4:
What it does:
Paladin gives you the Heavy Armor, Shield and Martial weapons you want for the 'tank' aspect. Fey foundling heals you an additional 2 hp per die of magical healing (also +2 vs death saves, but makes you take 1 pt more of damage from cold iron). Keep Smite for the BBEG-types, you will hit and you will do damage while it is up. Charisma increases, increase saves, channels per day, and your few spells. Constitution increases, well give more HP so you can soak more damage. Balance the two and maybe bump the STR for melee combat if needed.
Life Link allows you to target an ally and take up to 5 hp from each link at the beginning of your turn (one link per level of Oracle), use Cure Light Wounds from Oracle spells at first, or Wand of same.
Once you hit 3rd level, you have LoH. This allows you to heal yourself as a swift action. You can now heal yourself and still do your 'normal' melee/tank-y stuff, and your LoH heals you for even more on top of the Fey Foundling because of the Tiefling Favored Class bonus.
4th level, you gain a channel from Oracle, more AoE healing. Start looking into begging/borrowing/crafting/stealing a Phylactery of Positive Channeling. Because 5th level gives you a second Channel Pool from Hospitaler (and you might want to take Selective Channeling at that point as well). Two pools of Channeling, both get boosted by the item and you can use the bonus channels from the feat on either/or as needed/wanted. You are now a healing power house.
By no means is this my own creation. There was a post awhile ago about it. I've just been keeping it on a back burner and have been able to start putting it together as our home game has taken a break and we're doing something new.
Check this out. It's a really solid concept for what you wanna do:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257365
That is the guide I was referring to, but I thought it was here on Paizo where I read it, probably why I couldn't find it lol. It really should be added to the class guides.
Actually was just writing up a character to be used in an AP like this.
Tiefling (Kyton variant, Prehensile Tail - to hold things like your holy symbol, while using shield and weapon. Loses Fiendish Sorcery.)
Str 14, Dex, 10, Con 18(16+2), Int 10, Wis 8(10-2), Cha 18(16+2)
Traits: Exalted of the Society, (2nd up for grabs)
Favored Class Paladin; Tiefling: +1 hp healed when using LoH on self/level(1)Paladin (Hospitaler)1: Fey Foundling (Heritage feat), (Level 1 feat up for grabs)
(2)Oracle (Life, Legalistic Curse)1: Life Link Revelation
(3)Paladin (Hospitaler)2: Extra LoH Feat(3rd level)
(4)Oracle 2:
(5)Oracle 3: Channel Revelation, Extra Channel Feat (5th level)
(6)Paladin (Hospitaler)3:
(7+)Paladin (Hospitaler)4:What it does:
Paladin gives you the Heavy Armor, Shield and Martial weapons you want for the 'tank' aspect. Fey foundling heals you an additional 2 hp per die of magical healing (also +2 vs death saves, but makes you take 1 pt more of damage from cold iron). Keep Smite for the BBEG-types, you will hit and you will do damage while it is up. Charisma increases, increase saves, channels per day, and your few spells. Constitution increases, well give more HP so you can soak more damage. Balance the two and maybe bump the STR for melee combat if needed.Life Link allows you to target an ally and take up to 5 hp from each link at the beginning of your turn (one link per level of Oracle), use Cure Light Wounds from Oracle spells at first, or Wand of same.
Once you hit 3rd level, you have LoH. This allows you to heal yourself as a swift action. You can now heal yourself and still do your 'normal' melee/tank-y stuff, and your LoH heals you for even more on top of the Fey Foundling because of the Tiefling Favored Class bonus.
4th level, you gain a channel from Oracle, more AoE healing. Start looking into begging/borrowing/crafting/stealing a...
Lol don't care if its your idea, its pretty solid as far as most things go. I am curious if you might be able to answer a question that just occurred to me, does pathfinder require you to be good to channel positive energy, can you be evil? would it be a DM choice or is layed down as law in pathfinder?
eldritch heritage [arcane] requires 3rd level and skill focus in any knowledge skill as a prerequisite, then the feat itself grants you the 1st level power of the arcane bloodline (a bonded item, or a familiar- pick the familiar). you end up spending almost all of your feats on the familiar until 7th level, but its pretty sick once it comes together (basically getting 3 rounds worth of actions every turn).
edit: this is answering a question OP had about my earlier post (that's why it makes no sense if read alone)
I am glad to see I am not lacking for options, back in my last thread I was looking for ideas for a Tank/ DPS character (before I thought I had to do a healer) who was able to wield large size weapons because I took tiefling with over sized limbs that allowed him to wield a weapon 1 category size larger. Not a single person replied to the thread.
A multi-classed Paladin/Oracle would do well. You get a lot of bang out of your Charisma, and as the Oracle you get spontaneous healing spells (and more of them than a Cleric). Load up on the armor and help your fellow PCs be cool, and you can do cool things on your own as well. Looking again above, I see that others have also noticed this. :D
Channeling is based on alignment, typically. Good gals/guys get the positive, bad gals/guys get the negative, neutral gals/guys get a choice.
PFS, you can't be Evil so if you're doing society play, it isn't an option (but it doesn't sound like that is the case).
Life Mystery is restricted to Positive Channeling, it doesn't matter which alignment you are from what I'm seeing on d20pfsrd.com (no notations). Paladin, is unfortunately only good. There is the antipaladin, but they are granted negative energy strictly.
Closest I can see to blurring the line.
That all being said, the GM is doing a little in the way of house rules by allowing a free feat, you can always talk to them about it. I mean it is their game after all, just because the rules say something, doesn't mean the GM won't entertain the idea.
Channeling is based on alignment, typically. Good gals/guys get the positive, bad gals/guys get the negative, neutral gals/guys get a choice.
PFS, you can't be Evil so if you're doing society play, it isn't an option (but it doesn't sound like that is the case).
Life Mystery is restricted to Positive Channeling, it doesn't matter which alignment you are from what I'm seeing on d20pfsrd.com (no notations). Paladin, is unfortunately only good. There is the antipaladin, but they are granted negative energy strictly.
Closest I can see to blurring the line.
That all being said, the GM is doing a little in the way of house rules by allowing a free feat, you can always talk to them about it. I mean it is their game after all, just because the rules say something, doesn't mean the GM won't entertain the idea.
More of a curiosity then something I was planning on doing, was wondering more what derived it than anything else, I don't play a lot of clerics or paladin's type characters very often. i'm usually the fighter, caster, or rouge
Another concept is a halforc scarred witch doctor.
Melee cleric of Iomedae (tactics, heroism), Besmara (tactics, deception), Or Sarenrae (heroism, fire) all give good sword and board weapon options and nice domain abilities for melee concepts. For heavier armor melee characters who utilize Cha, I like the Noble Scion feat choice that lets you use cha for initiative if you aren't building a dervish build.
We're playing the Rise of the Runelords at the moment and are at level 3/4. The Paladin has Extra Lay on Hands and is a damned good healer, possibly even better than the Cleric who tends to burn through spells without leaving many for curing. She can't (yet) Cure Disease and so on, but she dishes out some pretty impressive HP repair.